WY Quality Counts

When I took my first born for her three month check up, the doctor asked me if she was able to roll over yet and my response was “no”.  He asked me if I gave her floor time and after thinking a minute, I said “no”.  He chuckle and said “you can’t just hold her all the time, she needs floor time.” When I got home from the doctors I laid a blanket on the floor and put my little baby on the floor and from that day on I made sure she had floor time every day.  The doctor was very correct in saying that babies need floor time. They need this because floor time helps the babies develop their muscles so they can perform important tasks like roll over, sit up, crawl and walk. 

Babies typically begin rolling over between two-three months of age.  They begin by rocking and slowly progress to lifting their head, chest and kicking their legs.  Laying them on their tummy is very important because it forces them to lift their head and chest in order to look around. The lifting of head and chest develops the muscles necessary for rolling over.  Soon after holding their head and chest up, they begin lifting their legs and kicking (airplane position).  We often do the airplane exercise with little ones who have underdeveloped muscles and if you do you yoga, you probably have done the airplane position.  This position builds the back and shoulder muscles that support us when we are sitting.

 

My baby did not like it when I first began laying her on her tummy because her muscles were not developed and it was a difficult task at first.  I lied down in front of her and surrounded her with toys, and her favorite stuffed animals.  After a couple of days she quit fussing and actually enjoyed the challenge.  Rolling over is a significant milestone for the baby and an exciting time for the adults. Once the baby begins rolling over, it is only a matter of time before the baby begins lifting his/her chest up by supporting herself with her arms and soon after comes getting up on all fours.